A binder-free thin film anode composed of Co2 +-intercalated buserite grown on carbon cloth for oxygen evolution reaction

•A binder-free anode of Co2 +-buserite was fabricated on carbon cloth.•The anode can produce high current density at low overpotential.•The mass activity is extraordinary high.

We present a binder-free catalytic anode for highly efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media. The catalyst consists of a thin film of buserite-type layered manganese dioxide (MnO2) intercalated with Co2 + ions, resulting from electrodeposition of the layered MnO2 film with tetrabutylammonium (Bu4N+) ions on a carbon cloth, followed by ion-exchange of the initially incorporated Bu4N+ with Co2 + in solution. The electrode is capable to produce a current density of 10 mA cm− 2 at an overpotential (η) of 377 mV with a Tafel slope of 48 mV dec− 1, much superior to the layered MnO2 without Co2 +.

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (340KB)Download full-size image